H.B. 153 Summary

• Increases minimum penalty for state water code violations from unspecified amount to $50 and maximum penalty from $5,000 to $60,000 per violation
• Each day a violation exists or continues constitutes a separate offense, with penalties assessed from the earliest known date of violation as determined by the Commission on Water Resource Management
• Requires the Commission to determine penalty amounts based on nature, extent, gravity of violation, history of violations, degree of culpability, and other relevant factors
• Expands commission enforcement authority to include pursuing administrative fines, fees, costs, attorneys' fees, and damages through legal action
• Appropriates funds and creates 2.0 full-time equivalent positions in the Commission on Water Resource Management for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025